The Monterey Peninsula was looking for new sources of water long before the drought set in.

The Monterey Peninsula was looking for new sources of water long before the drought set in.

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Updated: 10:57 AM PDT Apr 7, 2015

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WEBVTT ERIN: I AM ERIN CLARK.DAN GREEN IS ON ASSIGNMENTTONIGHT.GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN HAS MADE ITCLEAR.THIS YEAR WILL BEDIFFERENT FROMALL OTHERS WHEN IT COMES TORESTRICTIONS ON WATER USE.THE GOVERNOR'SCALL FOR A 25%REDUCTION IN WATER USE HAS LOCALGOVERNMENTS GEARING UP FOR BIGCHANGES.WE HAVE TEAM COVERAGE ON THECHALLENGES FACING SANTA CRUZ ANDTHE MONTEREY PENINSULA.WE START WITH CAITLIN CONRAD INMONTEREY.CAITLIN: THE MONTEREYPENINSULAHAS ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM FINDINGA WATER SOURCE.LOCAL LAWMAKERS SAY THE DROUGHTSEEMS TO BE FOCUSING PUBLICATTENTION ON FIXING THE PROBLEMTHAT EXISTS.FIGURING OUT A WATER SOURCE TOREPLACE THE WATER BEING PUMPEDOUT OF THE CARMEL RIVER.WE HAD THE WELLS RUNNINGTODAY AND IT IS RUNNING GREAT.CAITLIN: MONDAY'S WATERAUTHORITY BOARD MEETING BROUGHTGOOD NEWS.AN AMERICAN WATER COMPANYTESTWELL IS PUMPING THE RIGHT AMOUNTOF WATER FOR ADC LOCATION PLANT-- A DESALINATIONPLANT.THE WATER IS AS CLOSE TOSEAWATER AS POSSIBLE WHEN IT ISBEING DRAWN.CAITLIN:CULLEM SAYS THE WATERTHEY PUT OUT HAS TO BE SEAWATERBECAUSE THEY CANNOT PULL FROMFRESHWATER WHERE FARMERS HOLDWATER RIGHTS.THE PENINSULA NEEDS THE WELL TOPUMP OUT 9.5 MILLION GALLONS ADAY.THAT IS THE EQUIVALENT OF WHATNEEDS TO STOP BEING TAKEN OUT OFTHE CARMEL RIVER BY 2017.CULLEM SAYSSINCE THE DROUGHTANNOUNCEMENT, HE NOTICED THEPROJECT GOT A LOT MOREATTENTION.I THINK IT WILL HELP OURCOMMUNITY FOCUS ON WHAT THEMAYOR IS TRYING TO DO.WHAT THE WATER COMPANY IS TRYINGTO DO.AND WORK ON A SOLUTION TO OURPROBLEM IN A WAY THAT MAYBE THEYHAVE BEEN IN DIFFERENT TO.CAITLIN:HE SAYS THE NEXT STEPIS TO GET A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTALIMPACT REPORT DONE.BUT HE SAYS IT COULD BE YEARSBEFORE ANY OF THE WATER THAT ISBEING PUMPED BY THESE TEST

Cal Am water company: Desal slant wells in Marina working well

The Monterey Peninsula was looking for new sources of water long before the drought set in.